Chief Executive’s Message – Friday 4 June
June 4, 2021
By Dinah McLannahan, Chief Finance Officer
Anyone who has seen me around or follows me on Twitter knows I am a big fan of sunshine, so I hope like me, you have enjoyed the wonderful weather we have had this week. Those of you fortunate enough to spend time with children this week I am sure appreciated the opportunity for them to be out and about on a dry sunny day!
It has, as always, been a privilege and pleasure deputising for Richard this week while he gets some well-earned rest.
How are you? We are continuing our focus on your wellbeing and today I met with Dr Masood Aga on our wellbeing offer, resources, and ensuring its effectiveness. Are you taking advantage of the resources we have available? I would urge you to have a look at what’s on offer, and please use it when you’re able to. Sometimes it seems we have very little time when working and looking after our family and loved ones – but it is vital to take time to look after yourself. We are encouraging colleagues to nominate one hour per week as a dedicated time to focus on wellbeing – it can be at any time that best suits you, your service or department. This can be time within the working day to focus on something that helps with wellbeing such as a learning & development activity, reading, walking or team discussion. Just ensure you discuss and agree any timeout with your line manager.
As you know, there is no I in team. As we recover from the pandemic, effective teamwork becomes even more important. We know you and your teams need time together to reflect, discuss experiences and identify ways to move forward together and we are encouraging you to plan some time to do this. It is important that you have the freedom to design what will work for your teams, and the Trust will provide support in organising your away time, and make funding available.
As a team, do consider carefully what you would like to do that would be beneficial to all of you. Your group directors and senior finance managers will be able to advise on the development of your plans. We will need you to provide a short explanation of how your particular event will improve wellbeing for your team, and you will need to assure your group leaders that clinical services will not be affected. All reasonable requests will be considered; we should not put a value on your wellbeing and recovery – but as always please bear in mind value for money and don’t forget we are spending public funds! I know that some of you have already started on this journey of recovery, and I encourage you all to take up this important opportunity.
It has been a busy half term week across our organisation. We have been celebrating the vital contribution of our volunteers as part of Volunteers’ Week. Our team of volunteers have supported us throughout the pandemic and we thank them all for looking out for us and our patients. Recently, we welcomed back one of our long term volunteers, Rob Kingston. Rob has been a familiar friendly face around Sandwell for 11 years and we are delighted that he has returned to us after a 13 month break. Please do show appreciation to our volunteers as you meet them across our sites.
SWB was the first Trust in England to welcome RCN Nursing cadets to complete four days of observational placement. Coming as the result of a partnership between ourselves, the RCN, Holly Lodge School and the cadet force, 15 cadets joined us for the week to gain an insight into a career in health.
This week also saw the launch of the Clean Air Zone in Birmingham. Do visit the website to find out if your car is exempt, most will be. Perhaps you could think about using this as an opportunity to change how you commute to work if you are able. It was good to see the team from Ebikebrum on site offering colleagues short term loans as part of a study looking at wellbeing improvements from using the e-bikes.
And our Star of the Week is Sue Houghton who is a healthcare assistant on Priory 4. Sue was nominated by a colleague for the kindness she showed when the colleague recently returned to work at our Trust. Sue took her colleague under her wing, offering support and advice as required. Well done Sue!
And to finish off, if you enjoy a thrill, Your Trust Charity’s crane zip wire fundraising event in September may be just up your street. All funds raised will help the charity make the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital more than a hospital; this has long been our vision for it. If you choose to take part you will enter a secure cage at ground level. A crane will then lift the cage into the air. Once the cage reaches the agreed height, you’ll zip wire out speeding past the Midland Met at around 35 mph along a 220 metre long zip wire. You would need to raise a minimum of £250 to take part. Details are on Connect.
#hellomynameis
Dinah McLannahan, Chief Finance Officer